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The Hero with a Thousand Faces

The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell

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About this listen

Since its release in 1949, The Hero with a Thousand Faces has influenced millions of readers by combining the insights of modern psychology with Joseph Campbell's revolutionary understanding of comparative mythology. In this book, Campbell outlines the Hero's Journey, a universal motif of adventure and transformation that runs through virtually all of the world's mythic traditions. He also explores the Cosmogonic Cycle, the mythic pattern of world creation and destruction.

As relevant today as when it was first published, The Hero with a Thousand Faces continues to find new audiences in fields ranging from religion and anthropology to literature and film studies. The book has also profoundly influenced creative artists - including authors, songwriters, game designers, and filmmakers - and continues to inspire all those interested in the inherent human need to tell stories.

©2008 The Joseph Campbell Foundation (jcf.org). Third edition (with revisions) / 1968 by Princeton University Press. Second edition (with revisions) / 1949 by Bollingen Foundation and published by Pantheon Books. (Original edition), year 2008 (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved. Customs & Traditions Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Psychology & Interactions Social Sciences Sociology Tradition Mythology Inspiring Funny Ancient History Classics Comparative Mythology

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Critic reviews

"Arthur Morey, John Lee, and Susan Denaker are an adept and experienced performance team. The way they trade voices adds texture to the complex compendium of stories." ( AudioFile)
Most relevant
Loved the content.

I found the voice acting could have been more modulated and more passionate. It was good enough to keep my attention but could have kept it more 😂

I’d recommend the book to anyone who wants to be a hero and wants to belong in a crowd. Poetic and literal like the title of the book 😂❤️

Loved it. Perfect way to clear the mind

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The narrators speak well, but in such a complex language that I struggle to follow and understand. The different narrators interchange in speaking about complex mythological stories that are deeply philosophical. It requires and immense concentration for me just to be able to follow the narrators storytelling as they change between story and points quite suddenly. I often sit perplexed and in need of backing up to relisten multiple times.

That is me and perhaps it is not as complex for all intellectuals. I have enjoyed listening and I'm sure much of it has been absorbed into my subconscious that I now am much more wise and knowledgeable and the concept of the heroes journey than I was before I had listened to this book..

Extremely perplexing, complicated and valuable

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I found this to be a very interesting book, but I also found that I need to really concentrate and listen carefully in order to take it in and make sense of it.
Although I now have a better understanding of the commonalities of the hero story and journey across diverse cultures and times, I didn’t manage to take much from that in terms of what that means for the lives of real people and what we can learn from it to improve our lives.

Fascinating but needs focused listening

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a book we would have struggled with due to use of language & academic structure but thankfully we were reading due to a bookclub & so we persisted & put in much effort which due to our complex circumstances involves reading silently in Head then reading it aloud & then listening to it. then taking notes while listening & reading!
a very time consuming process but this is part of our abstract creative ShintoSEYE healing journey of DID & many physical & emotional labels/disorders & of course spiritual pains from generational & collective trauma!

our personal parallels & connections

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I loved it but please learn how to pronounce Oisin. Was painful to hear it pronounced so poorly. Actually all the Irish is pronounced terribly.

Great audiobook

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This was a great esoteric and philosophic exploration of Hero Mythology. I enjoyed the breadth of quotes from various cultural and interpretive sources and the change in voice for clarity and emphasis

Great exploration of Hero Myths.

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Extremely well structured and well read. The depth in which the author goes into each topic is quite ever powering at times, which I see as a good thing. It definitely deserves a second and dare I say a third listen, especially for a man like like myself, not so well versed in the mythology and phycoligy.

Epic read/listen

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Can't wait to listen to it again. So much interesting information. Very intriguing comparisons.

Very Interesting

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The narration, story telling, history and guidance in this book is like none I have listened to so far. Knowledgeable and served in a way digestible for the reader. A book for any fan of Jung or someone who believes in the adventure of life would learn a great deal from. For me all Audible books are listened to at .90 speed as I feel all Audible books are too fast.

A book I will return to again

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this is a fascinating book spanning cultures from so many places around the world. being Irish i was familiar with the mythology from Ireland - pronunciation was a bit dodgy in parts! :) would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone with an amateur interest in the area.

fascinating book and very well presented.

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